Today, we are visiting Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George, NY. Initially established in 1954 as Story Book USA, this park was themed around Mother Goose. As time passed, the park underwent various transformations, introducing new themed sections and roller coasters, leading to a name change to Great Escape in 1983. Subsequently, it became part of the Six Flags chain, although it does not prominently feature the Six Flags branding.
Located away from the main tourist area of Lake George, the park is surrounded by dense forest as you approach its entrance. Upon reaching the gate, it was evident that the entry plaza had a charming, storybook-like atmosphere. The parking lot is situated across the road from the park. As we entered the park, the first rides we noticed were the Sasquatuch Drop Tower on the right and the Steamin Demon. We decided to make our way towards Ghost Town first to experience the Steamin Demon.
Steamin Demon
Situated on a hill in the Ghost Town area of the park, the Steamin Demon rollercoaster boasts a 95ft lift, a single loop, and a double corkscrew leading into the brakes. The ride was quite rough and might not be the ideal choice for starting the day, in my opinion. Let's hope the upcoming rides offer a smoother experience. The next ride was the parks Mine train roller coaster, the Canyon Blaster.
Canyon Blaster
There is a rich history behind this rollercoaster. It was first introduced as Timber Topper at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee before the park closed. Later, it was renamed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster when the park revamped one of its sections to rock and roll. After the park shut down, the rollercoaster was kept in storage at the Old Indiana Fun Park for a long time until it was eventually moved and reconstructed at Great Escape in 2003.
Anticipating a thrilling adventure based on its reputation and status as the upcoming highlight in the park, I was let down when the reality fell short of my lofty anticipations. The initial portion of the ride was rather unremarkable, and the gradual double helix conclusion on the second ascent left me worried the ride might come to a halt. Despite its attractive aesthetics, the ride ultimately fails to deliver excitement. It's important to note, however, that this park caters more to families than thrill-seekers, so this is a factor to consider.
ADK Outlaw
Okay, the upcoming attraction is a departure from the family-friendly atmosphere of Great Escape. This ride is truly intense, located atop the hill in the ghost town section of the park. It consists of a massive arm with 8 riders positioned at each end, facing both forward and backward. The ride rotates and flips passengers 164 feet in the air at a speed of 52 mph. Without a doubt, this was one of the most terrifying rides I've ever experienced. I was definitely looking for something much milder after this!
The Comet
While The Comet may not offer a calm experience, it is definitely not as intense as ADK Outlaw. This 95ft tall wooden rollercoaster has a fascinating history, as it was constructed using parts of the Crystal Beach Cyclone, originally built in 1948 at Crystal Beach. After the closure of Crystal Beach, the ride was relocated and reconstructed at The Great Escape in 1994. Featuring a double out and back layout spanning 4,197 ft of track and reaching a top speed of 55mph, this rollercoaster has garnered favor over the years, with some praising its smoothness. However, in my opinion, the ride felt quite rough and rattled throughout the layout. Positioned at the rear of the park, beyond the waterpark, it provides a nice setting and is considered one of the top rollercoasters on the premises.
Flashback
Approaching the Hot Rods USA section of the park, I anticipated that my final rollercoaster ride of the day would be Flashback, a Boomerang rollercoaster with a different name. Surprisingly, the ride starts with a lift, followed by a backward fall into a cobra roll and a loop, then ascends to a second lift for a repeat of the layout. As expected, the experience was quite painful. Reflecting on my trip itinerary later, I realized that I would encounter a total of 5 boomerang rollercoasters on this journey, which was disheartening. Nevertheless, my ride on Flashback was a one-time experience.
The Rest of the Park & Overall
Due to the closure of Alpine Bobsleds, I decided to take a ride on the chairlift, experience more of their unique flat rides, and also explore some of their charming storybook village attractions before departing the park for my next destination. In general, I enjoyed the park. While I find their rollercoaster lineup to be somewhat lacking, the park is not primarily aimed at thrill-seekers. Instead, it is designed for families to enjoy a well-themed experience in a seasonal park with attractions suitable for all ages. I would recommend visiting this park if you find yourself in the Lake George area of New York.
Pictures are below. As always Keep Coast 'n'
Welcome To Great Escape, Where There Castle is on its own island
The park features an ambiance reminiscent of Storybook Land, seamlessly integrated with their other attractions.
While the entrance to Canyon Blaster may appear impressive, unfortunately, the ride itself does not live up to expectations.
Alot of the rides are hard to capture inside the park due to the park being wooded. Here is Steamin Demon from the parking lot.
The Sasquatch at Great Escape is presented by Great Escape. When you know you know.
The Alpine Bobsleds were not operating. It seems that they are rarely open. It's disappointing that many of the bobsled rides have been removed.
The Flashback was open though. Why must you be open!
That concludes the current update. Unfortunately, I did not capture as many pictures as I had intended at this location; however, I will ensure to take more photos at the next destination.
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